Jerry Davis has been participating in Special Olympics in Kosciusko County since the program started almost 40 years ago.
He's had a good year – he won a medal for team bocce in the state games, and enjoyed some bowling, the most popular sport among local athletes.
“I give the man upstairs the credit,” he said Wednesday during the county awards banquet. He and his wife, Portia, were among about 60 participants who attended the dinner in the Knights of Columbus hall in Warsaw.
There are about 100 athletes in the county program overall, according to County Coordinator Becky Walls.
Every participant received recognition during the banquet, and a few won door prizes in a raffle. Davis picked a huge stuffed bear when his number was called.
“It looks just like you,” someone joked as he sat back down.
Special recognition was given to Spirit of Olympics award winners. Valerie Flanagan was named coach of the year, John Bonitati volunteer of the year, and Robert Svinarich athlete of the year.
Svinarich placed fourth in bowling at last year's state games, and is the athlete representative for the county committee, along with Sandy Bibler.
The McPeak family – athlete Kevin, his father, Ken, and uncle, Norm – were named family of the year. Kevin has competed in the state summer games in several track and field events as well as softball.
Guest speaker Dr. Anita Kishan, a Warsaw pediatrician, reminded athletes of the advice 2012 Summer Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius received from his mother: a loser isn't the person who comes in last but the one who doesn't get involved in the first place.
“None of you are losers,” she told participants. “You know why? You get out there and you make friends. You're only a loser if you don't try.”
